David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ALFREDO MARTINEZ, 69, of Waterbury, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty yesterday before United States District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to one count of theft of government property stemming from his theft of nearly $200,000 in Social Security benefits.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from January 1996 through May 2008, MARTINEZ received $111,067 in Social Security disability payments while he continued to work and earn income using another social security number he fraudulently received. During that time, MARTINEZ also received $53,035 in disability payments for his wife and four children. From June 2008 through June 2011, MARTINEZ received $33,556.90 in duplicate Social Security retirement benefits under both social security numbers.

Judge Bryant has scheduled sentencing for October 3, 2012, at which time MARTINEZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

MARTINEZ also will be ordered to make full restitution to the Social Security Administration. To date, he has repaid $33,692.47 of the $197,658.90 he fraudulently received.

This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Felice Duffy.